Question Time

That was the point of course, Rob. They just wanted your $200. By making it as quick and efficient as possible, hopefully you'll do it repeatedly.

I appreciate the opportunity for members to ask questions, and the thoughtful answers. From the poetry lessons to a warranted compliment to @jameslileks courtesy of @FullSizeTabby and making sense of my meandering, long-winded question, this really showed off the versatility of the hosts, members, and the interesting discussions always on display here at Ricochet. Well done!

Probably would have been a good idea to mention the original questions-to-ask post:

https://ricochet.com/976615/happy-hour-question-time/

I like poetry a lot better if it's read out loud by somebody that knows what they are doing.

Regarding the part about Fauci handing out grants, in libertarian and finance circles, Dwight Eisenhower's famous speech is being talked about a lot right now.

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the militaryindustrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.

Akin to, and largely responsible for the sweeping changes in our industrial-military posture, has been the technological revolution during recent decades.

In this revolution, research has become central; it also becomes more formalized, complex, and costly. A steadily increasing share is conducted for, by, or at the direction of, the Federal government.

Today, the solitary inventor, tinkering in his shop, has been overshadowed by task forces of scientists in laboratories and testing fields. In the same fashion, the free university, historically the fountainhead of free ideas and scientific discovery, has experienced a revolution in the conduct of research. Partly because of the huge costs involved, a government contract becomes virtually a substitute for intellectual curiosity. For every old blackboard there are now hundreds of new electronic computers.

The prospect of domination of the nation's scholars by Federal employment, project allocations, and the power of money is ever present

and is gravely to be regarded. Yet, in holding scientific research and discovery in respect, as we should, we must also be alert to the equal and opposite danger that public policy could itself become the captive of a scientifictechnological elite.

This podcast is really expensive, but this discussion from a Soviet émigré about this topic is excellent.